CRUTHFIELD TONG AND HALO

TRACTION

BARENG, ABRALINE MARIE

 ABOUT CRUTHFIELD TONG
CRUTCHFIELD SKULL TRACTION TONGS ARE
U-SHAPED TOOLS THAT ARE USED FOR THE
FIXATION OF THE SKULL AND THE
IMMOBILIZATION OF THE NECK DURING
FRACTURE DISLOCATIONS OF THE CERVICAL
SPINE. THEY WERE DEVISED BY THE
NEUROSURGEON W.G. CRUTCHFIELD IN 1933.
EACH TOOL CONSISTS OF TWO CROSSING
BLADES WITH A LOCK ON THE SHORTER
LIMBS AND TWO POINT HOLDERS ON THE
WORKING ENDS OF THE LONG LIMBS. THE
POINT HOLDERS ARE INSERTED IN THE
APPLICATION OF CRUTHFIELD
TONG
 HALO TRACTION
HALO-GRAVITY TRACTION IS A WAY TO PULL THE
HEAD AND SPINE UPWARD CAREFULLY, APPLYING
A SLOW STRETCH TO THE SPINE. DOCTORS DO
THIS BY ATTACHING A HALO (A METAL RING THAT
SURROUNDS THE HEAD) TO A PULLEY SYSTEM.
OVER SEVERAL WEEKS, WEIGHTS ARE ADDED TO
THE PULLEY SYSTEM TO SLOWLY PULL THE HEAD
UPWARD. THIS PULLING IS CALLED "TRACTION."
KIDS STAY IN THE HOSPITAL DURING HALO-
GRAVITY TRACTION.
 USES OF HALO-GRAVITY
TRACTION TO TREAT
DIFFERENT CONDITIONS,
INCLUDING:
SCOLIOSIS AND KYPHOSIS
 (CURVATURE OF THE SPINE)

BASILAR INVAGINATION (WHERE
THE TOP OF THE SPINE PUSHES INTO
THE SKULL, PINCHING THE BRAIN
AND SPINAL CORD)
HALO TRACTION FOR SEVERE PEDIATRIC
SPINAL DEFORMITY
HALO BRACE TRACTION